City seeking residents willing to host 'edible gardens' in their community

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The City of Pittsburgh moved one step closer to using an $100,000 grant to install "cool roofs" and plant edible gardens after city council voted to encumber the funds Tuesday.

Cities of Service, a New York-based group supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, awarded the city the grant in October. Some of the money will be used to coat the roofs of city-owned buildings with white reflective paint. The paint is intended to keep the buildings cooler and save the city money.

It will allow the city to purchase materials and equipment to install gardens in vacant, city-owned lots with a focus on providing fresh produce to communities that lack good access to it.

Joanna Doven, spokeswoman for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, said the projects will be performed by mostly volunteers.

The city will start accepting applications for edible gardens this week. Those interested in having an edible garden in a vacant, city-owned lot in their community should call 412-255-4765.